Scottish Executive

Cancer

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Beatson Oncology Centre should operate outwith the North Glasgow University Hospitals NHS Trust on a permanent basis.

Malcolm Chisholm: It is of paramount importance that the momentum in appointing sufficient, appropriately trained, professional and support staff at the Beatson Oncology Centre is sustained, and that the second phase in taking forward the plans to relocate the centre at Gartnavel General Hospital are developed and implemented by a strong management team.

  Decisions have yet to be taken on the future reporting structure at the Beatson. I am determined to ensure that whatever future management arrangements are in place, by working in partnership with staff, the Beatson will now continue to go from strength to strength in delivering excellent services, covering the full range of cancer specialties, for the people of Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Cancer

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it makes available to support initiatives that translate research work on cancer into new diagnoses or treatments.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland.

  At present CSO is directly funding 58 research projects on cancer with a total value of £5.9 million. If translational research is defined as integrated clinical-laboratory investigations designed to improve the prevention, diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer, then 51% of this funding (£3 million) supports translational research. Three projects (with a total value of £0.3 million) are directly concerned with Phase I trials i.e. the first stage of testing newly researched treatments, including drugs, on patients.

  The Executive's recent contribution of £1 million per annum to support the clinical trial infrastructure required to facilitate patient entry into clinical trials in Scotland, regarded translational research as an integral part of clinical trials activity.

Careers Service

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Careers Scotland having given no indication to career advisers who are currently on temporary contracts as to whether their contracts will be extended when these contracts expire on 30 June 2002.

Iain Gray: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. However, I understand that the position of all staff on temporary contracts was clarified in the week commencing 24 June.

Dyslexia

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether research has been carried out into the use of Meclizine for the treatment of sufferers of dyslexia.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is not aware of any research into the use of Meclozine for the treatment of sufferers of dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued on the use of Meclizine for the treatment of sufferers of dyslexia.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive has not issued any guidance on the use of Meclozine for the treatment of sufferers of dyslexia.

  The Medicines Control Agency, the UK medicines regulatory authority, has advised that Meclozine does not have a marketing authorisation in the UK for the treatment of dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider assessing all children at pre-school or primary school age for dyslexia.

Cathy Jamieson: The Executive does not plan to assess all children specifically for dyslexia. However, early assessment of children should ensure that all schools identify the learning support needs of individuals at an early stage. The fact that nearly all three- and four-year-olds now have a nursery place, along with the Early Intervention Programme and greater awareness amongst teachers about dyslexia, means that teachers and other professionals are picking up signs of dyslexia in children at an early stage.

Dyslexia

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to advise students and parents about resources available to those with dyslexia such as scan and read software and software that utilises voice recognition technology.

Cathy Jamieson: Schools and education authorities advise pupils with dyslexia and their parents about resources available to support them and should ensure that this support is put in place. In further education colleges, a student's needs will be assessed by a qualified member of staff or through an ACCESS Centre.

  Organisations such as Enquire and Dyslexia in Scotland also provide advice to pupils with dyslexia and their parents. In addition to this, Dyslexia Scotwest and the Scottish Dyslexia Trust have recently been awarded funding for 2002-03 and 2003-04 through the Scottish Executive Innovation Grants Programme for projects which should assist in ensuring that pupils with dyslexia receive information and support.

Dyslexia

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to make learning institutions more accountable for not having identified a student as dyslexic when such students are so diagnosed in later life.

Cathy Jamieson: There is now greater awareness amongst teachers and lecturers about dyslexia, which means that teachers and other professionals are picking up signs of dyslexia in children and students and providing learning support for them at an earlier stage than was the case a decade ago. Therefore, young people and adults with dyslexia should no longer leave education without having had their learning difficulties identified and supported. Against this background, failure to diagnose dyslexia should be rare and the Scottish Executive has no plans at present to make learning institutions more accountable.

Dyslexia

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider administering an independent appeals procedure for complaints about provision made for teaching students with dyslexia.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not have any plans to administer a separate independent appeals procedure for complaints about provision made for teaching pupils with dyslexia.

  Rights of appeal for all pupils with additional support needs, including those with dyslexia, and their parents, are being considered as part of the development of the proposals outlined in the Scottish Executive response to Assessing our children's educational needs - The Way Forward? Copies of the response are available from the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 19469).

Dyslexia

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider giving the Disabled Student Allowance to all dyslexic students irrespective of the course of study and the age of diagnosis.

Iain Gray: Both the Beattie and Cubie Committees drew a distinction between the way disabled students should be supported in further and higher education. They favoured channelling additional funding to colleges to support the particular needs of disabled students on further education courses. The Executive agreed and has made available an additional £4.5 million over three years towards college costs of meeting additional study requirements such as specialist equipment.

  In relation to travel costs a Special Educational Needs Allowance was introduced in academic year 2001-02 by the Scottish Further Education Funding Council as a result of a request made by Scottish ministers to look into this. This allowance allows colleges to assist with disabled students additional travel costs.

  In higher education the Disabled Students Allowance is available to all eligible full-time, part-time and distance learning higher education students who have a disability and who by reason of their disability incur additional expenditure arising from their attendance on their course.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in reducing the number of composite classes in schools.

Nicol Stephen: Composite classes are a traditional feature of Scottish schools. Local authorities and head teachers are responsible for determining a class organisation which best suits the circumstances of individual schools, including the formation of composite classes where this is considered necessary.

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many composite classes there currently are in primary schools, broken down by local authority area and primary level.

Nicol Stephen: Composite classes are classes with more than one primary stage. The information listed in the following table shows the number of composite classes recorded in the September 2001 School Census, broken down by sequential year group and by education authority. Composite classes of more than two stages are also shown on the same basis.

  

 

All


P1-P2


P2-P3


P3-P4


P4-P5


P5-P6


P6-P7


Multi




Scotland


4,630


669


570


570


581


525


691


1,024




Aberdeen City


97


11


14


15


15


22


19


1




Aberdeenshire


365


46


31


34


41


34


47


132




Angus


123


18


11


9


12


7


19


47




Argyll and Bute


193


24


9


23


16


18


26


77




Clackmannanshire


35


5


4


4


5


6


9


2




Dumfries and Galloway


262


34


17


23


23


19


31


115




Dundee City


57


9


8


10


12


9


9


0




East Ayrshire


101


19


11


16


17


15


16


7




East Dunbartonshire


61


9


10


11


9


6


14


2




East Lothian


62


9


11


8


8


7


9


10




East Renfrewshire


28


4


3


5


6


3


7


0




Edinburgh City


143


21


27


29


21


20


23


2




Eilean Siar


117


12


2


3


4


4


9


83




Falkirk


90


13


11


14


14


15


14


9




Fife


314


53


45


40


41


48


42


45




Glasgow City


384


61


70


57


61


58


72


5




Highland


440


50


35


36


47


30


52


190




Inverclyde


50


5


12


10


7


10


5


1




Midlothian


60


7


9


10


8


4


9


13




Moray


117


18


13


11


15


12


16


32




North Ayrshire


100


22


11


16


12


17


14


8




North Lanarkshire


298


35


55


53


46


48


50


11




Orkney Islands


37


6


0


5


1


1


4


20




Perth and Kinross


154


24


18


15


17


12


21


47




Renfrewshire


60


11


6


10


7


5


18


3




Scottish Borders


169


24


18


16


26


15


25


45




Shetland Islands


62


8


4


4


6


3


9


28




South Ayrshire


77


14


9


8


8


8


10


20




South Lanarkshire


297


53


43


42


34


42


45


38




Stirling


87


15


12


9


12


8


11


20




West Dunbartonshire


66


7


11


9


11


9


15


4




West Lothian


124


22


30


15


19


10


21


7

Foster Care

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current rates of remuneration are for foster carers, broken down by the age of the child and by local authority.

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what mileage rates are paid to foster carers, broken down by local authority.

Cathy Jamieson: This information is not held centrally. The Fostering of Children (Scotland) Regulations 1996 and the accompanying guidance make clear that it is for local authorities to decide their own types and scales of payment to foster carers, depending on local childcare needs and circumstances.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to conduct a consultation equivalent to consultations carried out by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on Implementation of Directive 2001/18/EC on the Deliberate Release of Genetically Modified Organisms into the Environment.

Ross Finnie: Yes. The Executive expects to begin consultation on draft Scottish regulations in July 2002.

Higher Education

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications have been received by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for chemistry degree courses at higher education institutions for (a) 2002-03 and (b) each of the last 15 years.

Iain Gray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23795 which provides the number of applications to chemistry degree courses at Scottish higher education institutions between 1997 and 2001.

  Limited data from prior to this date can be obtained by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) but will take some time to collate. I will write to the member with this information once it has been supplied.

  Comparable figures for 2002 entry are not yet available as the closing date for applications through UCAS is 30 June 2002.

  The latest figures we have on this, for applications to 16 May 2002, indicate that there have been 2,045 applications to chemistry degree courses at Scottish higher education institutions. This is an increase of over 10% on the same time in the process last year.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the current limit of £750 in respect of small claims court actions in the light of inflation.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has reviewed the small claims limit and has twice laid orders before the Scottish Parliament to increase it to £1,500. On both occasions the orders have been withdrawn following representations to the Justice Committees. The issue remains under consideration.

Medical Records

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long health boards are required to store patients' medical records.

Mr Frank McAveety: For General Hospital and Community Health Service Health Records, health boards are required to store patient's medical records for six years following the date of the last recorded entry or three years after death.

Medical Records

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations are in place to ensure that patients can gain access to their medical records.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Data Protection Act 1998 allows patients to gain access to their medical records. The Data Protection (Subject Access) (Fees and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2000 set out how much, up to a maximum of £50 a patient may be charged for access to their records.

Ministerial Correspondence

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its performance has been in the first quarter of 2002 in answering ministerial correspondence.

Patricia Ferguson: In the answer given to question S1W-24583, I undertook to continue to report quarterly on the numbers of letters received by ministers and our performance in answering them.

  In the quarter January to March 2002, 4,511 letters were received for ministerial reply of which 72% received a reply within 17 working days; and 88% received a reply within 25 working days. This is an improved performance on the fourth quarter when 69% of letters received a reply within 17 working days and 86% received a reply within 25 working days. The performance should be viewed against a 27% increase in the volume of correspondence compared to the last quarter.

Music Tuition

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the current average charge made by each local authority is for musical instrument tuition per pupil receiving such tuition.

Nicol Stephen: The information requested is not held centrally.

NHS Staff

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to encourage an adequate number of students to study therapy radiography.

Malcolm Chisholm: I recently announced that the Scottish Executive Health Department will fund additional student places in 2002-03 for the Allied Health Professions (AHPs). This will include additional therapeutic radiography student places. These places are in addition to the 30 additional student places for the AHPs being funded by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council in 2002-03.

  Arrangements for a Careers Convention in the autumn to promote the AHPs and assist in recruitment and retention are currently under consideration. This will be targeted at schoolchildren and those who might want to return to their profession.

  A new Professional Officer for the AHPs will be appointed later in the summer. He/she will work with the professional bodies to develop career information for the Allied Health Professions, particularly for those areas experiencing significant recruitment difficulties.

NHS Staff

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that there is a sufficient level of strategic workforce planning with respect to professions allied to the health service, particularly in regard to therapy radiographers.

Malcolm Chisholm: Planning Together , the final report of the Scottish Integrated Workforce Planning Group, was published in January 2002 alongside the Scottish Executive Health Department's proposals for establishing a comprehensive workforce development infrastructure for NHSScotland at local, regional and national level. This whole systems approach to integrated workforce planning will provide coherent and structured arrangements for addressing the workforce aspects of all services including those provided by the Allied Health Professions. An action plan will be issued to reflect the feedback gained from the Workforce Development Action Day held on 15 April and to set a critical path for creating a robust workforce development function, which integrates workforce planning with service planning across all services in NHSScotland.

NHS Staff

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to the United Kingdom pay review bodies to raise the pay scales of speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists in order to improve recruitment into these professions.

Malcolm Chisholm: Pay for speech and language therapists is not determined by the pay review bodies, but through the appropriate functional Whitley Council.

  As far as occupational therapists and physiotherapists are concerned, the Scottish Executive submits evidence to the review bodies annually. Copies of the evidence submitted for 2001-02 can be found on the following website:

  http://www.doh.gov.uk/reviewbodies/

Nuclear Waste

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the statement by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry at Westminster on 28 November 2001, when the White Paper on arrangements for managing public sector civil nuclear liabilities will be published.

Ross Finnie: The White Paper Managing the Nuclear Legacy - A Strategy for Action is being published on 4 July 2002 by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Copies will be available from the Parliament's Reference Centre.

  The White Paper sets out plans for radical changes to current arrangements for the clean up of the UK civil nuclear legacy. Plans include the creation of a new body - the Liabilities Management Authority - responsible to government and with a specific remit to ensure that clean up is carried out safely, securely, cost effectively and in ways which protect the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

  The Scottish Executive has been involved in the preparation of the White Paper which recognises the responsibility of devolved administrations for radioactive waste policy and its importance in the management of the nuclear legacy. The Executive endorses the open, transparent approach, which is essential to command public confidence in driving forward the systematic clean up of the nuclear legacy.

  The Executive is committed to public involvement and is publishing today the findings of research undertaken in relation to the joint consultation document Managing Radioactive Waste Safely published by the UK Government and the devolved administrations in September 2001. Copies of the report - Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: Engaging Scotland - and the findings of a research survey - Managing Radioactive Waste Safely: Awareness and attitudes of the Scottish public will be available from the Parliament's Reference Centre.

  DTI has consulted widely with stakeholders in the preparation of the White Paper and would welcome views on the proposed new arrangements, and how they should be implemented. Views should be submitted to DTI by 18 October 2002. Contact details are provided in the White Paper.

Nursing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all universities that provide undergraduate nurse education were asked to bid for the recently announced increase in intakes for student nursing.

Malcolm Chisholm: The increase in intakes for student nursing arose from the recommendation of the Student Nurse Intake Planning process. This informs assessment of the numbers of higher education places needed each year for pre-registration nursing and midwifery students. Pre-registration training is provided through nurse education contracts directly funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department. The seven higher education institutions which operate these contracts were asked to bid for an additional 250 student places in 2002-03.

Nursing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the range in costs of nurse training provided by each contracted nurse education provider has been per trainee nurse in each of the last five years.

Malcolm Chisholm: Expenditure on the seven pre-registration nursing education contracts in the last five years and the number of students in training is as follows.

  

 

1997-98


1998-99


1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02




Contracts
(£ million)


31.3


33.5


34.2


35.8


40.2




Students in training


6,369


6,568


6,849


7,633


8,083




  Under the terms of the contract between the Scottish Executive Health Department and the individual higher education institutions (HEIs) that provide nurse education in Scotland, details of the range of costs of nurse training per trainee nurse are a matter between the department and the individual HEI.

Nursing

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all student nurses have to pay for (a) uniforms and (b) occupational health assessments.

Malcolm Chisholm: All student nurses are provided with free uniforms.

  Occupational health assessments are carried out free of charge by the seven higher education institutions contracted to the Scottish Executive Health Department to provide pre-registration nursing education. However, the four non-contracted higher education institutions who provide nurse education have varying arrangements in place.

Older People

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many older people are involved in Better Government for Older People, broken down by region.

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between Better Government for Older People and the Older People's Advisory Group.

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the relationship is between Better Government for Older People and the National Pensioners Convention.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is a matter for the Better Government for Older People (BGOP) Network. The information requested is not held centrally. I have asked the Network Director to write directly to the member. For information a copy of the latest edition of the network's journal Stratagem (Bib. number 22432) and a briefing note prepared by BGOP (Bib. number 22433) have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre.

Older People

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many seats pensioners' voluntary groups have on the Older People's Consultative Forum.

Mr Frank McAveety: The following organisations are represented on the Older People's Consultative Forum:

  Scottish Older People's Advisory Group (3)

  Scottish Pensioners' Forum (1)

  Confederation of Scotland's Elderly (1)

  Scottish Pensions Association (1)

  West of Scotland Seniors Forum (1)

  Black and Minority Ethnic Elders Group (1)

  Help the Aged (1)

  Age Concern Scotland (1)

  STUC (1)

  The number of representatives from each organisation is indicated in brackets. Other organisations and individuals are invited to attend the forum on an ad-hoc basis as necessary.

Older People

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many seats the Older People's Advisory Group have on the Older People's Consultative Forum.

Mr Frank McAveety: The Scottish Older People's Advisory Group has three representatives on the Older People's Consultative Forum.

Prison Service

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its intention is in regard to the continued use of HM Prison Kilmarnock when the 25-year contract with Kilmarnock Prison Services Ltd ends and what arrangements it proposes for the management of the prison at that time.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No decisions have been taken. Options will be evaluated near the end of the contract period which ends in 2024.

Rail Network

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding for a feasibility study into the possibility of re-opening Reston railway station.

Lewis Macdonald: The reopening of a railway passenger station at Reston is a local transport issue. As such we would expect the relevant local authority to take such a project forward.

  Local authorities may apply for funding of feasibility studies for public transport improvements from the Public Transport Fund (PTF). Studies or projects supported by the PTF would have to satisfy eligibility criteria and compete with other bids. Applications for the current round must be submitted by 12 August.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what agreements have been reached with respect to funding packages for the upgrading of the A77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick.

Lewis Macdonald: It is proposed to award the upgrading of the A77 as a Public Private Partnership contract, jointly with the Glasgow Southern Orbital subject to tenders demonstrating value for money. Funding will be provided by the Scottish Executive, RET, East Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire Councils in relation to those sections of road for which each is roads authority.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when construction on the A77 upgrade between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will now begin and what the target date is for completion.

Lewis Macdonald: Work is expected to start in early 2003, subject to the tender for the Public Private Partnership contract demonstrating value for money, with completion in 2005.

Roads

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of the upgrade of the A77 will be conducted in such a way so as to allow one carriageway of the new section of road to be brought in to use at as early a date as possible so that traffic separation on the existing road can be advanced, in view of the accident statistics on the A77 between Malletsheugh and the Monkton roundabout.

Lewis Macdonald: No. The optimum solution is to build the motorway in its entirety as soon as possible.

Schools

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a Public Private Partnership is to be announced involving South Lanarkshire Council.

Nicol Stephen: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-27026 on 25 June 2002.

Schools

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on Audit Scotland's recent report on the effectiveness of Public Private Partnerships as compared to other public sector funding options.

Mr Andy Kerr: As I stated in a press release on 12 June, I welcome the Accounts Commission examination of the evolving Public Private Partnership (PPP) landscape. The report is very positive about the difference which PPP projects have made to schools in Scotland. It is clear that conventional funding could not have produced the same step change in the schools estate. It is clear too that PPP has delivered real benefits in terms of project management, risk transfer and financial control and that PPP providers are delivering the schools rapidly, on schedule and with good control of construction costs.

Scottish Transport Group Pension Schemes

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether widows and widowers of former Scottish Transport Group (STG) staff will be eligible for payment from the STG pension fund under the arrangements made for the disbursement of the pension fund surplus.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive's eligibility criteria includes any widow, widower or child of a deceased former member of the Scottish Transport Group pension schemes who is currently receiving a pension.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the School Sport Alliance project will not take place and what the reasons are for the position on this matter.

Dr Elaine Murray: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-25783. In addition, following the report of the Physical Activity Task Force on 6 June, the Review of Physical Education chaired by the Deputy Minister for Education and Young people will consider all aspects of PE in schools.

Transport

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Borders railway line is not included in the list of "Up-front" transport improvements to be put in place before congestion charges are introduced referred to in the Have Your Say leaflet issued by the City of Edinburgh Council.

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the consultation documents on Edinburgh's new transport initiative and copies of the Have Your Say leaflet have made available to the public in the Scottish Borders area.

Lewis Macdonald: The wording and distribution of the Have Your Say consultation leaflet is a matter for City of Edinburgh Council.